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Friday, June 26, 2009

Are personal e-mails sent via a work computer public?

The Wisconsin Supreme Court will consider whether personal e-mails sent on work computers are public, the AP reported. A citizen requested e-mails sent by Wisconsin Rapids School District teachers to determine how much time they were spending on personal business during school hours. A judge ordered the e-mails to be released, but the teachers appealed.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court will decide whether personal e-mails sent by public employees are subject to the state's open records law.

The case involves five teachers in the Wisconsin Rapids School District. A citizen asked for e-mails sent from their work computers to determine if they were spending too much time on personal business.

The employees did not object to releasing work e-mails but filed a lawsuit to keep their personal messages private. A judge ordered the e-mails made public, but the teachers appealed.